"I learnt my lesson and went back and worked on it as much as I could.

But in the past month, the pendulum has swung back towards the productive, sparkplug version of the knockabout West Australian.

With tall timber Tom Lynch and Peter Wright providing aerial targets, Matera has profited at their feet, averaging 15 disposals and kicking eight goals over the past four matches.

"The last four games have been really good, probably on the back of us forward line playing together as a group, the continuity of getting to know each other.

"The big guys have been pretty good, made our job a lot easier."

While the midfield has been smashed by injuries, Matera says continuity with forwards, including first-year SUNS Ryan Davis and Callum Ah Chee, has helped him learn leading patterns and where to stand at stoppages.

Eade is pleased with Matera's progression, and with a year remaining on his contract, the small forward says he expects a big six weeks to finish the season and a bumper 2017.